Amateur anglers are gathering at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir this weekend for the 30th Big Bass Splash tournament. The event boasts more than $1 million in prizes.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
Photo: Guiseppe Barranco

Amateur anglers are gathering at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir this...

Amateur anglers are gathering at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir this weekend for the 30th Big Bass Splash tournament. The event boasts more than $1 million in prizes.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
Photo: Guiseppe Barranco

Amateur anglers are gathering at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir this...

Fishermen head in and out during the last hour of competition at the 2012 Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn.
Enterprise file photo
Photo: Beaumont

Fishermen head in and out during the last hour of competition at...

This is the polygraph used to give a random hourly winner their polygraph test at the 2012 Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had to choose from a hat; a colored blue poker chip indicated whom Patrick O'Burke, of Excalibur Consulting, administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to.
Enterprise file photo
Photo: Beaumont

This is the polygraph used to give a random hourly winner their...

Big Bass Splash this weekend 1 Million up for grabs

Big Bass Splash this weekend 1 Million up for grabs

Wesley Thomas won the 27th annual Big Bass Splash on Toledo Bend with his 9.62 lb day one catch. (L-R) Wesley's wife stands by him as he is crowned Champion, followed by 2nd place winner Bill Ligon (9.48 lbs), 3rd place Derek Mong (9.36 lbs), 4th place Nick Simon (9.23 lbs) and 5th place Cole Moore (8.36 lbs)

Silsbee resident Charles Hathaway was selected as the winner of a Legend boat, valued at $30,000, at the Elimination drawing at the McDonald's Big Bass Splash held recently at Toledo Bend.
Photo: Patty Lenderman - Lakecaster, HCN_Boat

Silsbee resident Charles Hathaway was selected as the winner of a...

18 year old Lance Thompson from Benton, LA took over the lead catching the biggest bass of his life weighing 8.86 lbs. Truly an amateur angler, this is the very first McDonald's Big Bass Splash he has ever participated in
Photo by Patty Lenderman / Lakecaster

After winning a $25 lottery ticket Thursday morning, Alan Atkins said that luck will be with him during this weekend's the Big Bass Splash.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
Photo: Guiseppe Barranco

After winning a $25 lottery ticket Thursday morning, Alan Atkins...

Theo Avlos preps one of the eight poles he will use in this weekend's Big Bass Splash at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Avlos uses several poles to cut down on lag time between broken lines and other pole misfortunes.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
Photo: Beaumont

Theo Avlos preps one of the eight poles he will use in this...

A new line class record Alligator Gar lays in the back of a pickup. The 193 lb. fish broke the previous record and was caught on 14 lb. line by Jarrod Holcomb this past April at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Beaumont

A new line class record Alligator Gar lays in the back of a pickup....

Lynn Allen of Nacogdoches, TX leads Day 1 of the McDonalds Big Bass...

Clay Shipp of Columbia, LA caught this incredible 11.60 lb bass just in time to win the McDonald's Big Bass Splash. Along with his hourly cash winnings, he also won a new Dodge truck & Triton boat!
Photo: Patty Lenderman

Clay Shipp of Columbia, LA caught this incredible 11.60 lb bass...

Wayne Ebarb of Many, La., takes over the tournament lead at the Big Bass Splash with his 11.33-pound catch on Saturday. (Patty Lenderman/The Lakecaster)
Photo: Patty Lenderman/The Lakecaster

Wayne Ebarb of Many, La., takes over the tournament lead at the Big...

Patrick O'Burke, right, of Excalibur Consulting, looks over paperwork belonging to Harvey Hester, left, an hourly winner, at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had to choose from a hat; a colored blue disk indicated whom O'Burke administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Beaumont

Patrick O'Burke, right, of Excalibur Consulting, looks over...

Silsbee's Jerry Williams claimed the $5,000 prize for his bass, which weighted exacly 3.00 pounds, on Day 1 of the Big Bass Splash on Lake Sam Rayburn. (Patty Lenderman/Lakecaster)

Silsbee's Jerry Williams claimed the $5,000 prize for his bass,...

Livingston's Robert Laird holds up his 10.74-pound bass, the largest fish caught on the first day of the Big Bass Splash on Lake Sam Rayburn. (Patty Lenderman/Lakecaster)

Livingston's Robert Laird holds up his 10.74-pound bass, the...

History was made at the MILLION dollar 25th Anniversary McDonalds Big Bass Splash! Larry McNeese of College Station, TX championed the event winning more than $250,000 in cash and prizes!

But founder Bob Sealy emphasizes another number - one with a few more zeros.

"It's called $1 million in guaranteed cash and prizes," Sealy said. "It is the only amateur fishing event in the world that guarantees that kind of money."

The prizes read off like an outdoorsman's dream Showcase Showdown from the Price is Right.

First place: $250,000 Sportsman Package with a 2014 Coachman motor home, Ram truck, Triton 21TrX boat powered by Mercury and $40,000 cash. The other prizes for placing daily and overall don't stray from that haul by much.

"We've changed people's lives over the years," Sealy said. "I've seen a generation grow up on this tournament."

One of the core principles that has kept the event growing and successful for three decades is the every-man approach.

No professionals allowed. Amateurs only.

"It gives the amateurs the same chance to be in the same limelight as the professionals, but without the high entry fees," Sealy said.

The event will begin today, with the final weigh-in - which will be broadcast on Fox 4 - occurring Sunday. The three-day event is free to those not fishing.

Festivities include the Lake Jam Music Festival, headlined by Josh Turner performing at 5:30 p.m. today at Umphrey Pavilion and Chris Young on Sunday, in addition to other artists throughout the Splash.